Herbert s



(No Model.)

H. s. OWEN.

BICYCLE.

No. 398,745. Patented Feb.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT b. O\VEI\ OF XdSllIXG'lOX, DISTRHT OF COLI BIBIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,745, dated February26, 1889.

Application filed February 16, 1888. Serial No. 264,200. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. OWEN, of ashing-ton, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain Improvements in Bicyles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to the construction of theframe-work, having in view the adaptation of the bicycle for the use ofladies and children and a reduction in the cost of its manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side. elevation of thecomplete machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the main frame. Fig. 3is a horizontal section on the line .11. Fig. i is a vertical centralsection through the brake i'nechanism. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal verticalsection through thelower part of the frame.

Referri n to the drawings, A represents the rear wheel; B, the frame orreach, divided at the lower end to receive said wheel; (I, the frontsteering-fork provided with a steeringbar, and swiveled, as usual, tothe front end of the frame that it. may turn horizontally, and D thefront steering-wheel. The frame consists, essentially, of a tubular bar,a, provided at its forward end with steering-centers, as usual, andcurved thence downward between the two wheels to or about the level ofthe pedal-shaft and carried thence upward in front of the rear wheel,its rear end terminating in a vertical position, so that it is adaptedto receive and support the seat-standard E.

The rear wheel is carried on each side by two arms, I) b, one connectedto the lower and the other to the upper portion of the rear part of thereach. These arms, which are preferably formed in one piece, meet at thecenter of the wheel, being bent, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, insuch manner as to leave between them a horizontal slot, 6, for thereception of the axle. The arms are preferably formed of drawn or rolledsteel rods or tubes, and are attached at their ends to the frame orreach I5 by brazing or welding them thereto, or, through the means ofsuitable clips, e, welded or otherwise fastened to the reach.

F represents a shaft provided with the usual crank and pedals and lyingtransversely beneath the frame in front of the rear wheel, beingsupported by a suitable bearing plate or plates, j, brazed or otherwisesecured to the reach. The lower arms,b', maybe connected to the sameplate, as shown in Fig. 2. The shaft is provided with a sprocket-pulley,g,

connected in the usual manner by a sprocket- 1 chain, 71, with a pulleyon the driving-wheel. l The brake-lever i is pivoted to the steeringhandle or bar, as usual, and jointed to the l upper end of a rod, At itslower extremity 1 this rod enters the upper split end'of a tube,

7., passing through a suitable guide, 7, on the front of thesteering-fork, attached at its lower l extremity to the brake-shoe m.The tube 7.-

is tapered externally at the upper end and i threaded to receive a nut,n, by which it may be contracted firmly upon the rod j. This nut alsoserves as a collar or hearing for the upper end of a spiral spring, 0,which encircles the tubeand bears upon the guide Z, as shown in Fig. l,for the purpose of holding thebralce norn'ially out of action.

Owing to the downward curvature of the frame between the wheels, themachine may be used by ladies without interference with l their shirtsand without the necessity of sitting astride of the frame, as in othermachines.

In order to strengthen the frame for the use of heavy persons, adetachable brace, p, may be applied between the two extremities of thereach, as shown in the drawings. This brace 79 is not claimed as part ofthe present invention.

The saddle is preferably constructed, as shown, by carrying the upperend of the standard E forward to support the front extremity of theflexible seat r,which is sustained at its rear end by springs 5,attached to a plate thereon and supported in their turn byavertically-adjust-able arm, I, encircling the standard E and confinedby a set-screw, u.

If necessary, the main frame may be stilt ened by the insertion of afilling before it is bent, as shown in Fig. 5.

llavingthus described my intent-ion, what I claim is t i. In abicycle-finme, and in combination with the U-shaped bar a, the twocarryingarms for the rear wheel, each arm consisting of a continuous rodbent to an angular form, its two extremities rigidly attached to the bara and its central or angular portion adapted to receive the axle of theWheel.

2. In a bicycle-frame, the Wheel-carrying arms I) Z), formed in a singlepiece and bent to form the axle-receiving slot 0.

3. In combination with the brake-shoe, its tubular standard, theoperating-rod and nut 92.

4. I11 a brake for bicyles and the like, the brake-shoe having thetubular standard, in combination with the operating-rod adjustablysecured thereto.

5. In a bicycle or tricycle, the seat consisting of the standard E, bentlaterally at its upper end, the arm I, springs s and flexible seat 1*. t

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 21st day of January,1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

HERBERT S. OlVEN.

Vitnesses:

FREDK. D. OWEN, P. T. DODGE.

